Animal-trap.



No. 639,163. Patented Dec. l2, I899. F. W. FLAKKER.

' ANIMAL TRAP.

(Application filed June 3, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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FREDRICK W. FLAKKER, OF WI-IEATON, MINNESOTA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,163, dated December12, 1899. Application filed June 3,1899. Serial No. 719,212. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that LFREDRIOK W. FLAKKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wheaton, in the county of Traverse and State of Minnesota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to animal-traps; and its object is to provide animproved construction of the same which shall possess superioradvantages with respect to efficiency in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of an animal-trapconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a centrallongitudinal section of the same.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral l designates a rectangularbox formed by means of partitions 2 into a central compartment 3 and acompartment at at each side thereof. These side compartments communicatewith an end compartment 5. The said end and side compartments areprovided with wire-gauze ends and tops. The inner end of the centralcompartment consists of an inclined sliding plate 6, the lower end ofwhich abuts against the lower end of a vertical sliding plate 7. Thesaid central compartment is open at the top and at the front is providedwith a plate 7 having an opening 7 therein for a rat or other animal toenter the compartment. The bottom of the central compartment comprises atilting plate or platform 8, centrally journaled to the lower ends ofthe partitions 2. Pivoted to a bracket 9, secured to the lower side ofsaid platform, near the inner or rear end thereof, is a curved trigger10, the free end of which extends upwardly through aslot inthe inner endof the platform. Connected with said trigger above its pivotal orfulcrum point is a wire 12, which extends forwardly and is connectedwith a catch 13, pivotally connected -with the front end of theplatform, and is adapted to engage with the stationary bottom 14 of thesaid central compartment. Said platform is provided with a depending rod15, to the lower end of which is secured a counterbalanced Weight 16,which holds the platform in its closed or normal position.

Located above. the platform is an inclined plate 17, the lower end ofwhich approaches nearly to the upper end of the vertical plate 7, butleaving a space therebetween, as seen. Hinged or pivoted to said lowerend of plate 17 is a swinging apron 18, the rearward movement of whichis controlled or limited by a curved spring 19, secured to plate 17.

The numeral 20 designates a box on which the box 1 seats, and the endcompartment 5 is formed with holes 21, communicatin g therewith.

The operation of the device is as follows: A suitable bait will beplaced on the end of the trigger, which projects up above the tiltingplatform, and a rat or other animal will be attracted thereby and enterthe hole in the front of the central compartment and passing upon saidplatform will press the swinging apron rearwardly, which in turn willstrike the upper end of the trigger!) and force the same backwardly. Theother end of the trigger will also be moved and through its connectionwith the catch at the front of the platform will release the latter. TheWeight of the rat will now tilt the platform, causing the rat to bedeposited in the lower box, when the counterweight will return theplatform to normal position and set the same for another operation. Therat thus caught will ascend into the upper box through the holes in theend compartment 5, and thus serve as a decoy to entice other rats intothe trap. It will also be noticed that if a rat should enter the opentop of the central compartment it will also be caught. The plate 6 is aslide, and by pulling the same outward the trap in rear of the centralcompartment will be opened to allow the rats to be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In ananimal-trap, the combination. with the upper box provided with a centralcompartment, two side compartments, an. end compartment with holestherein, and the lower box, of the tilting platform forming the bottomof the central compartment, the trigger and the counterbalance-weightand connections between the said trigger and the stationary bottom ofsaid central compartment, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-trap, the combination with to the front end of saidtrigger, and the pivoted catch at the front end of said platform withwhich the said wire is also connected,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDRIOK W. FLAKKER.

Vitnesses:

ANDREW PETERSON, G. K. KRISTENSEN.

